Angels

“Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Angels! One of the most misunderstood beings are angels. We cannot do a comprehensive study here but we can do a concise analysis. Let's look at just a few things:
1. Angels are not to be worshiped.
“And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. ”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Angels are not equal with God! Angels are created beings, not the Creator!!
2. When we die we do not become angels in heaven!
“Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:26-28‬ ‭NLT‬‬
God made man in His image, not angels. We are the apex of God's creation. Angels are created beings as well, but with one exception: they are not made in God's image. As the crown jewel of God's creation, we are higher in position of than angels. Now this is not meant to degrade the purpose and power that God delegated to His angels nor does it mean that we are to be arrogant and prideful in our created rank. We are all under the Supremacy of The Lord Jesus Christ!!! My point here is that we must properly understand the created order of things.
“Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬
We must stop saying things like: "God needed another angel in heaven" when a baby dies or anyone else. They are not angels!! The thought is meant in good intention but it isn't biblically sound.
3. There are various kinds of angels: Winged and without wings.
A. Cherubim - two wings
These are the angelic beings who were placed at the entrance of the garden of Eden to prohibit the re-entry by Adam and Eve after they were expelled. (see Genesis 3:22-24). These creatures were also depicted by craftsmen and placed atop the lid of the Ark of The Covenant to prepare a place where God's mercy would meet man in the Old Covenant (see Exodus Chapters 25-26, 36-37). They are mentioned in many other Old Testament passages as well.
B. Seraphim - Angelic creatures with six wings.
“Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6:2‬ NLT
C. Angels in human form -
“That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground.
....But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭19:1, 4-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬
These two men angels were apparently in human form. Lot interacted with them and invited them into his home. The men of Sodom were perverse in their sexual conduct (much like we are seeing in our own society) and wanted these "men" to be given over to them for their deviant acts. Lot did not grant their request but the men of Sodom were going to assault him. Before they could do that, the angels pulled Lot back inside the house and smote the men of Sodom with blindness.
Angles come to us in human form and we must be discerning to realize it.
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:2‬ ‭NLT
4. Angles are only mentioned in masculine reference in scripture, not feminine.
Just a the men of Sodom wanted the "men" who had come to Lots house, so are angels mentioned in the masculine in scripture.
A. Michael -
“But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬
B. Lucifer -
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭14:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬
This scripture is believed by many to be a reference to Satan because of his fall from heaven. In this way of thought Satan was once a high ranking angel that was expelled from heaven. Some reference Revelation Chapter 12 with this.
“Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.
....Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12:3-4, 7-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬
C. Gabriel -
“And I heard a human voice calling out from the Ulai River, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of his vision.” As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell with my face to the ground. “Son of man,” he said, “you must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end.” While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭8:16-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! ”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:26-28‬ ‭NLT‬
These three are the only named angels in the canon of scripture. Some argue that Lucifer in Isaiah 14 was not a reference to Satan but, rather, to a Babylonian king. One consideration, however, about the text can give the interpretation that the spirit behind the Babylonian king was satanic. Thus, the reason for the possible interpretation for Lucifer as Satan!
5. Angels are servants of God that minister to God's chosen -
“For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:7‬ ‭NLT
At the end of Jesus temptation by Satan, angels came and ministered to Him.
“Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭12:6-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
If you are a born again child of God, angels are with you and watching over you to help you fulfill Gods will in your life. Take heart child of God! You are in God's care!

Curtis R. Norris